Summer is one of the busiest and most important times of the year for our advocacy work. Over the next several weeks, we have critical opportunities to influence policy, engage elected officials, and ensure the voices of people with disabilities, their families, and the direct support professional workforce are heard.
August Recess Engagement
Each August, members of Congress return home to their states and districts, creating one of the best opportunities for grassroots advocacy. Our chapters consistently make the most of this time by meeting face-to-face with lawmakers, inviting them to local events, and participating in town halls to highlight the issues that matter most. To help you prepare, we're hosting a webinar this Wednesday covering the latest federal policy updates and what chapters should know heading into August recess.
Submit Comments on New Medicaid Work Requirements
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a proposed rule outlining how states must implement the Medicaid work requirements enacted in H.R. 1. The public comment period is open through July 31.
Please share your comments and personal experiences through The Arc's website and encourage others to do the same. We are urging CMS to:
Withdraw or pause the rule.
Strengthen protections for people with disabilities and serious health conditions by making it easier to qualify for the medically frail exemption.
Prevent eligible people from losing Medicaid because of paperwork or administrative barriers.
Thank you for everything you're doing to advance our mission. Whether you're meeting with lawmakers, organizing your community, or sharing your story, your advocacy makes a difference.
New York chapter weighs in on U.S. Supreme Court’s Haiti temporary protected status decision. Stanfort Perry, CEO of AHRC Nassau, a chapter of The Arc, explained why this decision impacts care for people with disabilities in a letter to the editor in The Washington Post.
The Arc U.S. analyzes new report on inclusion in education.A new GAO report shows that more students with disabilities are learning in general education classrooms than they were a decade ago. But it also shows how uneven that progress is and why this is the wrong time to split education oversight across multiple agencies. Learn more in our blog.
Get to Lids in August and Support The Arc
Lids, a leading sports apparel retailer with more than 1,000 stores nationwide, is teaming up with The Arc this August! Customers will be asked to support the disability community by rounding up at checkout or adding The Arc’s logo to a hat.
You can help by sharing this opportunity in your community and organizing an outing to a Lids store near you.Thank the employees for their support and stock up on gear with The Arc’s logo added. If you plan a group outing, please let Kristen McKiernan know ahead of time at [email protected]. Lids staff want to be ready to welcome us!
National Convention Registration Now Open!
Registration is open for The Arc’s National Convention, November 18–20, in Portland, Oregon. Join people with disabilities and advocates for three days of ideas, connection, and community.
Get Involved With Leadership of The Arc’s Chapter Network
The National Conference of Executives of The Arc (NCE) seeks chapter leaders to fill open seats on the Steering Committee for the 2027–2028 term. We are particularly interested in applications from regions one and four to ensure well-rounded representation on the Steering Committee. If you are looking for a great way to get more involved with The Arc and connect more with chapter leaders, joining the NCE Steering Committee is for you! View the NCE Prospectus and complete your application.
Update Your Address Book: Email Hack at National Office
We are so reliant on email to communicate with each other, and the hackers know it. The national office recently had to shut down the email account of our colleague, Carrie Hobbs Guiden, due to chaos caused by the bad guys. Since she leads chapter relations at the national office, please update your contacts to reach her at [email protected]. If you email her old address, she will not be able to respond!
Outlook can auto-populate her old email address, so if you start typing, and an address other than [email protected] pops up, click on the X next to it. If you need help, contact Katey Vale at [email protected].
Resources & Opportunities
Free Resources To Support Future Planning
Future planning can feel overwhelming for people with disabilities and their families, but it doesn’t have to be. The Arc's Center for Future Planning offers free, practical tools in plain language to help make that process easier. Explore guidance on decision-making, financial planning, employment, daily life, and more. Share these tools with the people you support.
Missed the Digital Skills Webinar? Check Out the Recording!
Digital skills can open the door to more independence, stronger communication, and fuller community participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabiliites (IDD). Check out a free virtual event on the AT&T Digital Literacy Program, which showcases how one chapter is using it to make a real impact.
September 11, also called Patriot Day, is a nationwide call for Americans across the country to volunteer in their local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the 9/11 attacks. This year carries extra significance as we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Find a volunteering event in your community and help the organizers make it accessible for everyone by utilizing our new toolkit. Or create your own event and invite community partners to honor the day.
When It Matters Most: Providing Compassionate End-of-Life Care in IDD
Tuesday, July 28, 2:00 pm ET
Thanks to quality-of-life improvement and better-quality care, people live longer. For people with IDD, navigating advance care planning and decisions requires thoughtful, person-centered approaches. Register here.
What’s Happening in Policy and Advocacy
Wednesday, July 29, 2:00 pm ET
Get the latest on federal policy activity and The Arc’s advocacy work. Make sure you’re up to date on resources you can use to navigate conversations with lawmakers around policy priorities. Register here.
The Power of Hope: Making Wellbeing a Reality for the Autism Community
Thursday, August 13, 2:00 pm ET
Autism service providers are increasingly challenged to balance skill acquisition with supporting lives characterized by joy, meaning, connection, and purpose. This presentation will explore how principles from positive psychology can be integrated into services to promote human flourishing. Register here.
Chapter Town Hall: Standard Terms and Conditions for Affiliation
Tuesday, August 25, 2:00 pm ET
Join The Arc’s CEO, Katy Neas, and NCE Steering Committee Chair Jean Phelps for a conversation about The Arc’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Affiliation. Last revised in 2013, these terms are ready for a meaningful refresh, and this town hall is your chance to share your perspective. Katy and Jean will share a draft of proposed updates. We will highlight why these changes matter and invite your ideas and questions along the way. This is more than an update; it’s an opportunity to help shape a stronger future for our chapter network. We hope you’ll join us and be part of the conversation. Register here.
Do you know of any staff or board members in your chapter who are not receiving Fusion? Forward this email to them so they can sign up by creating a free chapter portal account.
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
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